WHY DOES MY CAT HAVE DIARRHOEA?

Diarrhoea is a symptom, therefore, we cannot treat diarrhoea per se. Behind diarrhoea lies a medical condition that is causing it and that is where we have to get to.

The causes of diarrhoea can range from simple gastritis to much more serious illnesses.

First of all, what is diarrhoea, and when can you suspect that the droppings in front of you might be a problem?

The normal stool should be brownish in colour and with a consistent texture, the kind of "little stools" that we usually see in sandboxes. The droppings don't need to be completely liquid, but if you notice a change in colour (lighter or darker), texture, or if there are streaks of blood or mucus in the stool, you should be concerned.

An increase in bowel movements coupled with a change in texture may also be cause for alarm.

What could be wrong with my cat if it has diarrhoea?

The first risk of diarrhoea is dehydration, as the main loss is of fluids, but prolonged diarrhoea leads to malnutrition, as the accelerated progression of food means that neither water nor nutrients are absorbed in the same way.

Most common reasons for diarrhoea:

ABRUPT CHANGES IN DIET: In cats it is very important to make progressive changes between different foods, as sudden changes can cause dysbiosis (changes in their digestive flora) and cause problems such as diarrhoea and/or vomiting, and sometimes due to these problems the animal ends up rejecting a food. To prevent this from happening, the ideal is to make a progressive change.

ALLERGY AND INTOLERANCE PROBLEMS: As with other species, it is possible for a kitten to develop an intolerance or allergy to some ingredient, the most common being ingredients of animal origin (beef, pork, lamb, fish, eggs and, particularly, dairy products), although they can also have problems with some vegetables such as wheat or soya. The diagnosis should be made by a vet, but it is very important that you identify the food that makes them sick.

INGESTION OF SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE: It can range from a sudden change in their diet, to a new food that they do not tolerate, for example, our processed food, they may have food poisoning, be very careful with decorative plants, and, above all, watch out for any poisons that people put out for other species (be very careful with cats that have access to the outdoors), they can also ingest objects such as toys, hair bands, amongst other items. If you suspect any of these things it is urgent that you see a vet, we always recommend that the animals are always looked after as much as possible, and that when they are not under supervision we leave them as safe as possible away from danger.

STRESS: Cats are very sensitive to stress, and no, we are not talking about stress as we humans understand it. Cats can feel very stressed by something as obvious as the arrival of a new member of the family (baby, dog, even another cat), but they can also be stressed by a new household appliance that produces an unpleasant sound (a hoover or an air freshener), or a change of diet, or any other change. As well as affecting their digestive system, stress can affect their immune system. The solution to a stressed cat is unfortunately not usually as simple as going back, so it is best to have a vet do a complete examination and rule out any physical issues, treat the symptoms and, above all, have an ethologist assess the situation and give you guidelines to help you manage the situation.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: there are a multitude of bacteria, viruses and parasites that can infect our little buddies. Some are not particularly serious, but viruses such as panleukopenia are deadly, and one of their most characteristic symptoms is diarrhoea, and any chance of surviving it depends on early diagnosis and supportive treatment to help them overcome the infection. To avoid diarrhoea becoming more serious, the most important thing is to have your cat assessed by a vet as soon as possible.

OTHER DISEASES: the presence of diseases such as hormonal problems, tumours, viruses that do not always cause diarrhoea, even medicines used to treat another conditions can cause diarrhoea.

What to do if your cat has diarrhoea?

As you have already seen, it is very important to go to the vet as soon as possible. But until you do, the best thing to do would be to call your clinic or another emergency clinic so that they can advise you on how to act in your specific case until they give you an appointment. But it is very important that from the onset of the diarrhoea, your kitten has access to clean, fresh water, and if you suspect that it may be due to something he has ingested, you should withdraw his food, until a vet can see it.

María González Sola. Co-founder of Refugio la vida color Frambuesa and responsible for the vet consults VeggieAnimals.